The Round-Up
Sunday 10th November
Women’s FA Cup
The Women’s FA Cup reaches the 1st Round Proper, 12 ties drawn with the remaining regional and FAWNL Division One sides vying for a place in the next round where the FAWNL Northern & Southern Premier Division side enter the competition. 5 of those ties featuring sides playing in the leagues covered by Women’s Football East, reduced to 3 in the finish with the games between Woodlands FC Ladies & Billericay Town Ladies and Cheltenham Town Ladies & Leyton Orient WFC falling foul to the weather, both games scheduled to take place this coming Sunday.
Onto the ties played, a trip to the West Midlands for ERWFL Premier Division side, Luton Town Ladies as they looked to continue thier fine run in the competition away to FAWNL Midlands Division One side, Wolverhampton Wanderers Women. A tough test for Luton amongst the title challengers in a competitive league, Wolves leading the Midlands Division One table by five points losing just once this season back in early September. Shannie Jennings firing Wolves into an early lead scoring in the 7th minute with a strike from outside the box. Wolves strong pressing for a 2nd goal doubling their lead on 22 minutes Lowri Walker making it 2-0. Rebecca Ferris keeping Wolves from adding a 3rd goal before half-time the FAWNL side 2-0 up at the break. Luton coming out fighting at the start of the 2nd half looking for an early reply it was Wolves however who would go on to take a 3-0 on the hour Lyndsey Glover with the goal. Into the final 20 minutes Wolves taking a 4-0 lead Sophie Bamford firing home. Luton pulling a goal back quickly Jess McKay heading in after Zara Carroll’s free-kick strikes the crossbar. 4-1 the final score Wolves advancing Luton’s fine run coming to an end in this season Women’s FA Cup.
Two all FAWNL South East Division One ties in the 1st Round Proper of the Women’s FA Cup, Ipswich Town Women leading the table at home taking on Essex side AFC Basildon Women. The hosts with early chances taking the lead in the 16th minute a free-kick outside the area put away beautifully by Paige Peake. Half an hour gone and Ipswich doubled their lead Sophie Peskett in to steal the ball at the back and race on through into the area to score. Natasha Thomas making it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time meeting a cross inside the six yard box. Further chances to extend the lead for the Suffolk side in the 2nd period a 4th goal eventually coming with 7 minutes left a corner put in from the right a knock on controlled by Abbie Lafayette beyond the far post and struck low into the back of the net. Zoe Cossey rifling home from the edge of the box with 2 minutes left to see Ipswich advance to the 2nd Round Proper with a 5-0 victory.
Sophie Peskett in on goal to make it 2-0 to Ipswich (photo credit Ross Media UK)
Actonians Ladies hosting AFC Wimbledon Ladies in the 1st Round Proper. A full blooded match between the pair, Actonians Ladies the only side to beat Wimbledon so far this season beating the 3rd placed side 2-0 in the Determining Round of the FAWNL Cup. Top scorer Alessandra Barreca putting Actonians into the lead inside the opening 20 minutes with her 9th goal of the season. Wimbledon with a quick reply to equalise winning a corner on the left the inswinging ball missed by the keeper bundled in by defender Hannah Billingham at the far post. The visitors pressing the referee needing to have a word on occasion, Actonians retaking the lead with 5 minutes left in the 1st half Jessica Byrne through seeing her initial effort blocked by the keeper taking the ball around her to score her first goal of the season. Actonians leading 2-1 at half-time. The 2nd half no less competitive Wimbledon battling looking for a reply, Actonians defending robustly keeping them at bay keeping their lead at celebrating victory at the final whistle reaching the 2nd Round Proper.
The draw for the 2nd Round Proper of the Women’s FA Cup drawn live on Talksport radio the ties to be played Sunday 1st December with the winners receiving £1000 those ties involving sides from the Southern Premier & South East Division One listed below:-
Hounslow Women v Cardiff City Ladies
Keynsham Town Ladies v Watford Ladies
Yeovil Town Women v Southampton FC Women Portsmouth FC Women v Cheltenham Town Ladies or Leyton Orient WFC
Southampton Women’s FC v Milton Keynes Dons Women
Oxford United Women v Plymouth Argyle Ladies
Chichester City Ladies v Ipswich Town Women
Woodlands FC Ladies v Billericay Town Ladies v Gillingham Ladies
Actonians Ladies v Crawley Wasps Ladies